Adjustable Glenoid Pin Insertion Guide

ABSTRACT

A system and method for aligning a guiding pin relative to a glenoid including a guiding pin insertion guide for orienting the guiding pin relative to the anatomic structure and an axis alignment device. The guiding pin insertion guide includes a base plate and a movable pin orientation device coupled to and extending from the base plate. The axis alignment device has a plurality of through holes that each define a different alignment axis. The guiding pin mates with one of the through holes to align the guiding pin at a patient-specific alignment axis, the guiding pin is then received within the guiding pin insertion guide when mated with the one of the through holes to align the guiding pin insertion guide along the patient-specific alignment axis relative to the base plate, and the guiding pin insertion guide is fixed to the base plate along the patient-specific alignment axis.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an adjustable glenoid pin insertionguide.

BACKGROUND

This section provides background information related to the presentdisclosure which is not necessarily prior art.

Performing an anatomic or reverse arthroplasty generally requires theplacement of a guide pin or wire in a glenoid. Considerable surgicalskill, however, is generally required to correctly expose the glenoidand remove the soft tissue surrounding the glenoid to accurately alignthe guide pin in the correct orientation on the glenoid beforeperforming the anatomic or reverse arthroplasty. It is desirable,therefore, for an instrument or system that can accurately and quicklyorient a guide pin relative to the glenoid before performing an anatomicor reverse arthroplasty.

SUMMARY

This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not acomprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.

The present disclosure provides a system for aligning a guiding pinrelative to an anatomic structure. The system includes a guiding pininsertion guide for orienting the guiding pin relative to the anatomicstructure, the guiding pin insertion guide including a base plate and apin orientation device coupled to and extending from the base plate, thepin orientation device being movable relative to the base plate; and anaxis alignment device, the axis alignment device being a planar memberincluding a first surface and a second surface having a plurality ofthrough holes extending between the first surface and the secondsurface, each of the through holes defining a different alignment axis,wherein one of the through holes is configured to align the guiding pinat a patient-specific alignment axis, the guiding pin insertion guide isconfigured to receive the guiding pin when the guiding pin is mated withone of the through holes to align the guiding pin insertion guide alongthe patient-specific alignment axis relative to the base plate, and theguiding pin insertion guide is configured to be fixed to the base platealong the patient-specific alignment axis.

The present disclosure also provides a system for aligning a guiding pinrelative to a glenoid. The system includes a guiding pin insertion guidefor orienting the guiding pin relative to the glenoid, the guiding pininsertion guide including a base plate having an upper surface and aglenoid-engaging surface, and a pin orientation device coupled to andextending from the upper surface of the base plate, the pin orientationdevice being movable relative to the base plate; and an axis alignmentdevice, the axis alignment device being a planar member including afirst surface and a second surface having a plurality of through holesarranged in a coordinated array extending between the first surface andthe second surface, each of the through holes defining a differentalignment axis, wherein one of the through holes is configured to alignthe guiding pin at a patient-specific alignment axis defined by apatient-specific coordinate of the array, the guiding pin insertionguide is configured to receive the guiding pin when the guiding pin ismated with the one through hole to align the guiding pin insertion guidealong the patient-specific alignment axis relative to the base plate,and the guiding pin insertion guide is configured to be fixed to thebase plate along the patient-specific alignment axis.

The present disclosure also provides a method for aligning a guiding pinrelative to a glenoid. The method includes determining apatient-specific alignment axis for the guiding pin relative to theglenoid; providing an axis alignment device defined by a planar memberincluding a first surface and a second surface having a plurality ofthrough holes arranged in a coordinated array extending between thefirst surface and the second surface, each of the through holes defininga different alignment axis; determining a coordinate location of one ofthe through holes that defines an alignment axis that corresponds to thepatient-specific alignment axis; mating the guiding pin with the onethrough hole to orient the guiding pin along the patient-specificalignment axis; placing a guiding pin insertion guide over the guidingpin, the guiding pin insertion guide including a base plate having anupper surface and a glenoid-engaging surface, and a pin orientationdevice coupled to and extending from the upper surface of the baseplate, the pin orientation device being movable relative to the baseplate such that when the guiding pin insertion guide is placed over theguiding pin, the pin orientation device is aligned along thepatient-specific alignment axis; fixing the pin orientation devicealigned along the patient-specific alignment axis relative to the baseplate; removing the guiding pin along with the guiding pin insertiondevice from the axis alignment device; contacting the glenoid-engagingsurface of the base plate with the glenoid; and securing the guiding pinto the glenoid along the patient-specific alignment axis.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the descriptionprovided herein. The description and specific examples in this summaryare intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended tolimit the scope of the present disclosure.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only ofselected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are notintended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a prior art implant for reverse shoulderarthroplasty;

FIG. 2 is an environmental view of the prior art implant of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a prior art implant for anatomicshoulder arthroplasty;

FIG. 4A is an environmental view illustrating a guiding pin used duringreaming in reverse shoulder arthroplasty;

FIG. 4B is an environmental view illustrating a guiding pin afterreaming in reverse shoulder arthroplasty;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a guiding pin insertion guide accordingto a principle of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of the guiding pin insertion guideillustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is another perspective view of the guiding pin insertion guideillustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of the guiding pin insertion guideillustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the guiding pin insertion guide relativeto an axis alignment device according to a principle of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of the guiding pin insertion guiderelative to an axis alignment device illustrated in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a side perspective view of the guiding pin insertion guiderelative to an axis alignment device illustrated in FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is another side perspective view of the guiding pin insertionguide relative to an axis alignment device illustrated in FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is another side perspective view of the guiding pin insertionguide relative to an axis alignment device illustrated in FIG. 9;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the guiding pin insertion guidepositioned relative to a glenoid according to a principle of the presentdisclosure; and

FIG. 15 is a side perspective view of the guiding pin insertion guidepositioned relative to a glenoid of FIG. 14.

Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference tothe accompanying drawings.

The present teachings generally provide reusable surgical instrumentsthat may be configured to be patient-specific. The surgical instrumentsmay include, for example, alignment guides, drill guides, and othertools for use in shoulder joint replacement, shoulder resurfacingprocedures and other procedures related to the shoulder joint or thevarious bones of the shoulder joint, including the glenoid face orcavity of the scapula, the humeral head and adjacent shoulder bones. Thepresent teachings can be applied to anatomic shoulder replacement andreverse shoulder replacement. The instruments can be used either withconventional implant components or with patient-specific implantcomponents and/or bone grafts that are prepared using computer-assistedimage methods according to the present teachings. Computer modeling forobtaining three-dimensional images of the patient's anatomy usingmedical scans of the patient's anatomy (such as MRI, CT, ultrasound,X-rays, PET, etc.), the patient-specific prosthesis components and thepatient-specific guides, templates and other instruments, can beprepared using various commercially available CAD programs and/orsoftware available, for example, by Object Research Systems or ORS,Montreal, Canada.

The instruments, when patient-specific, and any associatedpatient-specific implants and bone grafts can be generally designed andmanufactured based on computer modeling of the patient's 3-D anatomicimage generated from medical image scans including, for example, X-rays,MRI, CT, PET, ultrasound or other medical scans. Very smallirregularities need not be incorporated in the three-dimensionalengagement surface. The patient-specific instruments can includecustom-made guiding formations, such as, for example, guiding bores orcannulated guiding posts or cannulated guiding extensions or receptaclesthat can be used for supporting or guiding other instruments, such asdrill guides, reamers, cutters, cutting guides and cutting blocks or forinserting guiding pins, K-wire, or other fasteners according to asurgeon-approved pre-operative plan.

In various embodiments, the instruments of the present teachings canalso include one or more patient-specific tubular guides for receivingand guiding a tool, such as a drill or pin or guide wire atcorresponding patient-specific insertion points and orientationsrelative to a selected anatomic or reverse axis for the specificpatient. The instruments can include guiding or orientation formationsand features for guiding the implantation of patient-specific oroff-the-shelf implants associated with the surgical procedure. Thegeometry, shape and orientation of the various features of theinstruments, as well as various patient-specific implants and bonegrafts, if used, can be determined during the pre-operative planningstage of the procedure in connection with the computer-assisted modelingof the patient's anatomy. During the pre-operative planning stage,patient-specific instruments, custom, semi-custom or non-custom implantsand other non-custom tools, can be selected and the patient-specificcomponents can be manufactured for a specific-patient with input from asurgeon or other professional associated with the surgical procedure.

Referring to FIGS. 1-2, a prior art reverse shoulder implant 10 isillustrated. The reverse shoulder implant 10 includes a humeral stem 12,a humeral tray 14, a humeral bearing 16, a glenosphere 18 and abaseplate 20 having a plate portion 22 and a central boss 24. Thehumeral stem 12 is implanted in the humeral bone 26 and has a proximalend 28 coupled via a Morse taper connection to a male taper 30 extendingfrom a plate 32 of the humeral tray 14. The glenosphere 18 can bemodular and include a head 34 articulating with the bearing 16 and anoffset double-taper component 36. The double-taper component 36 has afirst tapered portion 38 coupled to a corresponding tapered opening 40of the head 34 and a second tapered portion 42 coupled to the centralboss 24 of the glenoid baseplate 20. A central screw 44 passes throughthe baseplate 20 into the glenoid face 46 of the patient's scapula.Peripheral screws 48 are used to lock the baseplate 20 in the glenoidface 46.

Referring to FIG. 3, a prior art anatomic shoulder implant 50 isillustrated. The anatomic shoulder implant 50 includes a humeral stem52, a glenosphere 54 and a bearing 56 with peripheral pegs 58 and aremovable or non-removable central peg 60.

FIG. 4A illustrates using a guiding pin 62 to guide reaming of theglenoid face 46 in reverse shoulder arthroplasty using a reaming device64. FIG. 4B illustrates the guiding pin 62 through a hole 66 formedusing reaming device 64 through the glenoid face 46. The guiding pin 62is used to guide placement of the reverse implant 10 or the anatomicimplant 50, discussed above. A hole (not shown) may be pre-drilled inglenoid face 46 before receiving guiding pin 62, or guiding pin 62 maybe K-wire that is aligned relative to glenoid face 46 before insertioninto glenoid face 46. Each of these processes will be described in moredetail below.

Referring to FIGS. 5-8, an exemplary patient-specific guiding pininsertion guide 68 is illustrated. Patient-specific guiding pininsertion guide 68 is configured to guide the guiding pin 62 duringinsertion into glenoid 46, and provide an implant alignment orientationfor reverse as well as anatomic shoulder arthroplasty at the surgeon'sdiscretion. The guiding pin insertion guide 68 includes a base plate 70having an upper (or outer) planar surface 72 and a lower (or inner)planar or anatomy-engaging surface 74 that references the glenoid face46. Although lower surface 74 is illustrated as being planar, it shouldbe understood that it is not out of the scope of the present disclosurethat lower surface 74 be patient-specific such that lower surface 74 isthree-dimensionally contoured to correspond to the patient-specificcontours of glenoid 46 such that lower surface 74 rests in only oneposition on glenoid 46. In other words, lower surface 74 may becontoured such that lower surface 74 is a negative surface of glenoid46. As illustrated, the labrum can be completely removed such that thelower surface 74 references and mirrors only the bone surface of theglenoid cavity or glenoid face 46.

Base plate 70 may be tear-drop shaped such that an apex 76 of base plate70 defines an alignment device 78. Alignment device 78 can be used toalign base plate 70 in the proper orientation relative to glenoid face46 by pointing the apex 76 at an anatomical reference point of theglenoid 46. For example, alignment device 78 can be used to orient baseplate 70 such that apex 76 points at a visual landmark such as thesuperior apex of the glenoid 46. Base plate 70 may be formed frommaterials such as titanium, surgical steel, and polymeric materials suchas polyethylene. Moreover, it will be appreciated that base plate 70 maybe any shape desired so long as an alignment device 78 is defined thatcan point at a visual landmark of the patient's anatomy such as thesuperior apex of the glenoid 46.

A pin orientation device or guide tube 80 is coupled to and extendsoutward from base plate 70. Pin orientation device 80 includes acylindrical guide 82 having a proximal end 84 and a distal end 86.Proximal end 84 defines a bulbous portion 88 that mates with base plate70. In this regard, base plate 70 includes an aperture 90 that is shapedto receive bulbous portion 88, and allow pin orientation device 80 to bemovable or articulate relative to base plate 70 in a manner similar to ajoystick. Bulbous portion 88 may be unitary with cylindrical guide 82,or may be manufactured separately and bonded to cylindrical guide 82 bywelding, brazing, or the like. Regardless, cylindrical guide 82 andbulbous portion are preferably formed from the same materials as baseplate 70. Namely, materials such as titanium, surgical steel, andpolymeric materials such as polyethylene. Cylindrical guide 82 is hollowand defines an elongate channel 92 for receipt of guiding pin 62.

To allow bulbous portion 88 to articulate relative to base plate 70,base plate 70 includes a slit 89 formed therein that extends from an endportion 91 to aperture 90 such that opposing ends 93 and 95 of baseplate 70 face each other. In addition, ears 97 extend from opposing ends93 and 95, respectively, with each ear 97 including an aperture 99 forreceipt of a set screw 71. Thus, when bulbous portion 88 is to be fixedrelative to base plate 70, screw 71 may be engaged with apertures 99 todraw opposing ends 93 and 95 tightly together to clamp bulbous portion88 at the desired orientation.

As discussed above, pin orientation device 80 is movable relative tobase plate 70. This allows guiding pin 62 to be oriented in any desiredaxial direction relative to glenoid 46 before insertion into glenoid 46.Preferably, the desired axial directions (i.e., for anatomic and reversearthroplasty) are determined and designed according to pre-operativeplans for the patient to define patient-specific anatomic alignment axesand insertion points for guiding pin 62. To assist in orienting pinorientation device 80 relative to base plate 70 at the correct axialdirection for either anatomic or reverse arthroplasty, the presentdisclosure provides an axis alignment device 94.

As best shown in FIGS. 9-13, axis alignment device 94 is a planar member96. Planar member 96 includes a first surface 98, a second surface 100,and a plurality of side surfaces 102 connecting first and secondsurfaces 98 and 100. Planar member 96 also includes a plurality ofthrough holes 104 that pass through planar member 96 from first surface98 to second surface 100 at different angles. Moreover, although throughholes 104 are only illustrated as being positioned in a single quadrant106 of planar member 96, it should be understood that the entirety ofplanar member 96 may be provided with through holes 104, with eachthrough hole 104 defining a different axial angle through planar member96. It should be understood base plate 70 is not illustrated asincluding ears 97 in FIGS. 9-13 for ease of illustration only.

Axis alignment device 94 can include a coordinate system 108. Coordinatesystem 108 assists in organizing the axial angle of each through hole104. In the illustrated embodiment, the coordinate system 108 includesthe coordinates 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 in each of the x- andy-directions. At the through hole 104 that corresponds to coordinates(0,0—with the first zero corresponding to the x-axis and the second zerocorresponding to the y-axis), the axial angle may be ninety degrees suchthat pin orientation device 80 will extend normal to base plate 70 whenaligned using this through hole 104. At the through hole 104 thatcorresponds to coordinates (0,2), the axial angle of through hole 104may be tilted by two degrees in the y-direction. In another example, atthe through hole 104 that corresponds to coordinates (4, 6), the throughhole 104 will define an angle that has first been tilted four degrees inthe x-direction from the position normal, and then titled four degreesin the y-direction.

The remaining quadrants 106 may include through holes (not shown) thatdefine angles that are titled in the negative x- and y-directionsrelative first surface 98. In this manner, the axis alignment device 94provides for a full range of axial angles relative first surface 98 forproper orientation of pin orientation device relative to base plate 70.Although the coordinate system 108 described above corresponds tochanges in the axial alignment of two degree increments in each of thex- and y-directions, it should be understood that any incremental change(e.g., increments less than one degree, one degree, two degrees, threedegrees, etc.) can be defined by coordinate system 108. Moreover,although numbers are used to identify various coordinates, it should beunderstood that letters, symbols, or any combination of letters,symbols, and numbers may also be used. For example, the x-axis may usenumbers while the y-axis uses letters to identify each through hole 104.

As noted above, the preferable axial angle at which pin orientationdevice 80 is to be oriented relative to base 70 can be determinedpre-operatively such that the preferable axial angle ispatient-specific. This specific axial angle can then be assigned theproper coordinates on axis alignment device 94 that provides anorientation for guiding pin 62 that is as close as possible to thepatient-specific orientation. Alternatively, a plurality of axisalignment devices 94 may be provided with different angular increments,and the proper angular increment selected to best match thepatient-specific orientation.

Once the glenoid face 46 has been prepared for insertion of guiding pin62, the surgeon may place the axis alignment device 94 flat on a table.The guiding pin 62 (e.g., a Steinmann pin, guide pin, or K-wire) canthen be inserted into the through hole 104 at the predeterminedcoordinates. The guiding pin insertion guide 68 including base plate 70and pin orientation device 80 may then be placed over the guiding pin 62resting in the predetermined through hole 104 such that lower surface 74of base plate 70 rests flat against first surface 98 of axis alignmentdevice 94. With base plate 70 resting against first surface 98, apex 76should always point in the positive y-direction, and be aligned with thethrough hole 104 in the same column as the selected coordinate throughhole 104. Because pin orientation device 80 is movable relative to baseplate 70, this process will orient pin orientation device 80 at theproper axial angle relative to base plate 70. Pin orientation device 80may then be fixed relative to base plate 70 using set screw 71 asdescribed above such that the proper axial angle between pin orientationdevice 80 and base plate 70 is maintained. Then, guiding pin insertionguide 68 may be removed from guiding pin 62 and transferred to thepatient.

Once guiding pin insertion guide 68 is transferred to the patient, baseplate 70 is placed on the glenoid face 46, preferably as close to thecenter of the glenoid face 46 as possible. In this regard, it has beendetermined that surgeons are capable of accurately determining thecenter of the glenoid face 46. To ensure proper alignment of base plate70 on the glenoid face 46, apex 76 of alignment device 78 is pointed atthe visible landmark of the patient's anatomy such as the superior apexof the glenoid 46. Then, with pin orientation device 80 alreadycorrectly axially aligned relative to base plate 70 due to coordinationwith axis alignment device 94, the guiding pin 62 may be insertedthrough elongate channel 92 of pin orientation device 80 and insertedinto the glenoid face 46 at the correct axial orientation for eitheranatomic or reverse arthroplasty (e.g., if guiding pin 62 is a K-wire).The guiding pin insertion guide 68 may then be removed from the guidingpin 62, leaving the guiding pin 62 inserted into the glenoid face 46.Alternatively, a drill may be placed through the aligned pin orientationdevice 80 to pre-drill a hole (not shown) along the desiredpatient-specific axis that will subsequently receive guiding pin 62.Regardless, after proper placement of guiding pin 62, the surgeon maythen proceed with either the selected anatomic or reverse arthroplastyprocedure.

It should be understood that the pre-operative plan for the patient mayinclude coordinates for each of an anatomic or reverse arthroplasty. Inthis manner, once the glenoid 46 has been prepared for surgery, thesurgeon can determine intra-operatively the correct procedure toperform. Moreover, it should be understood that the coordinatesdetermined pre-operatively can be changed intra-operatively. That is, ifthe surgeon determines that the axial angle at which the guiding pin 62is to be inserted into the glenoid 46 will be insufficient, the surgeonmay select a different axial angle for the guiding pin 62 by selectingone of the plurality of through holes 104 having a different axial anglethan the through hole 104 that was pre-selected pre-operatively. Forexample, if the surgeon determines intra-operatively that the designedaxial angle should be shifted by two degrees in the x-direction, thesurgeon may select that through hole 104 on axis alignment device 94when orienting pin orientation device 80 relative to base plate 70.Alternatively, the surgeon may select another axis alignment device 94with less angular differences between each of the coordinate throughholes 104.

Lastly, it should be understood that guiding pin insertion guide 68 andaxis alignment device 94 may be reusable. Specifically, each of guidingpin insertion guide 68 and axis alignment device 94 may be formed frommaterials such as titanium or surgical steel that allows these devicesto be sterilized and re-used. As noted above, however, it should beunderstood that lower surface 74 of base plate 70 may include apatient-specific surface, if desired.

The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided forpurposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or featuresof a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particularembodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be usedin a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described.The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to beregarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modificationsare intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for aligning a guiding pin relative toan anatomic structure, comprising: a guiding pin insertion guide fororienting the guiding pin relative to the anatomic structure, theguiding pin insertion guide including a base plate and a pin orientationdevice coupled to and extending from the base plate, the pin orientationdevice being movable relative to the base plate; and an axis alignmentdevice, the axis alignment device including a first surface and a secondsurface having a plurality of through holes extending between the firstsurface and the second surface, each of the through holes defining adifferent alignment axis, wherein one of the through holes is configuredto align the guiding pin at an orientation that is substantially alignedwith a patient-specific alignment axis, the guiding pin insertion guideis configured to receive the guiding pin when the guiding pin is matedwith one of the through holes to align the guiding pin insertion guidealong the patient-specific alignment axis relative to the base plate,and the guiding pin insertion guide is configured to be fixed to thebase plate along the patient-specific alignment axis.
 2. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the through holes are arranged in an array.
 3. Thesystem of claim 2, wherein the axis alignment device includes acoordinate system.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the onethrough-hole defining the patient-specific alignment axis is located ata patient-specific coordinate.
 5. The system of claim 3, wherein eachthrough hole defines a different alignment axis by a predeterminedangular amount.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the predeterminedangular amount is defined by the coordinate system.
 7. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the base plate includes an alignment device foraligning the base plate with a location visible on the anatomicstructure, and for aligning the base plate relative to the axisalignment device.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the base plate isshaped to include an apex, and the alignment device is defined by anapex.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the pin orientation device ishollow, and includes a bulbous portion that movably mates with the baseplate.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the bulbous portion allows thepin orientation device to articulate relative to the base plate and lockinto place.
 11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a reamingdevice.
 12. A system for aligning a guiding pin relative to a glenoid,comprising: a guiding pin insertion guide for orienting the guiding pinrelative to the glenoid, the guiding pin insertion guide including abase plate having an upper surface and a glenoid-engaging surface, and apin orientation device coupled to and extending from the upper surfaceof the base plate, the pin orientation device being movable relative tothe base plate; and at least one axis alignment device, the axisalignment device a first surface and a second surface having a pluralityof through holes arranged in a coordinated array extending between thefirst surface and the second surface, each of the through holes defininga different alignment axis, wherein one of the through holes isconfigured to align the guiding pin at an orientation that is at leastproximate a patient-specific alignment axis defined by apatient-specific coordinate of the array, the guiding pin insertionguide is configured to receive the guiding pin when the guiding pin ismated with the one through hole to align the guiding pin insertion guidealong the patient-specific alignment axis relative to the base plate,and the guiding pin insertion guide is configured to be fixed to thebase plate along the patient-specific alignment axis.
 13. The system ofclaim 12, wherein each through hole defines a different alignment axisby a predetermined angular amount.
 14. The system of claim 13, whereinthe predetermined angular amount is defined by the coordinate system.15. The system of claim 12, wherein the base plate includes an alignmentdevice for aligning the base plate with a location visible on theglenoid, and for aligning the base plate relative to the axis alignmentdevice.
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the base plate is shaped toinclude an apex, and the alignment device is defined by the apex. 17.The system of claim 12, wherein the pin orientation device is hollow,and includes a bulbous portion that movably mates with the base plate.18. The system of claim 17, wherein the bulbous portion allows the pinorientation device to articulate relative to the base plate and lockinto place.
 19. The system of claim 12, wherein each of the guiding pininsertion guide and the alignment axis device are reusable.
 20. Thesystem of claim 19, wherein the guiding pin insertion guide and thealignment axis device are formed from either titanium or surgical steel.21. The system of claim 12, further comprising a reaming device.
 22. Amethod for aligning a guiding pin relative to a glenoid, comprising:determining a patient-specific alignment axis for the guiding pinrelative to the glenoid; providing an axis alignment device defined by amember including a first surface and a second surface having a pluralityof through holes arranged in a coordinated array extending between thefirst surface and the second surface, each of the through holes defininga different alignment axis; determining a coordinate location of one ofthe through holes that defines an alignment axis that most closelycorresponds to the patient-specific alignment axis; mating the guidingpin with the one through hole to orient the guiding pin along thepatient-specific alignment axis; placing a guiding pin insertion guideover the guiding pin, the guiding pin insertion guide including a baseplate having an upper surface and a glenoid-engaging surface, and a pinorientation device coupled to and extending from the upper surface ofthe base plate, the pin orientation device being movable relative to thebase plate such that when the guiding pin insertion guide is placed overthe guiding pin, the pin orientation device is aligned along thepatient-specific alignment axis; fixing the pin orientation devicealigned along the patient-specific alignment axis relative to the baseplate; removing the guiding pin along with the guiding pin insertiondevice from the axis alignment device; contacting the glenoid-engagingsurface of the base plate with the glenoid; and securing the guiding pinto the glenoid along the patient-specific alignment axis.
 23. The methodof claim 22, wherein each through hole defines a different alignmentaxis by a predetermined angular amount.
 24. The method of claim 23,wherein the predetermined angular amount is defined by the coordinatesystem.
 25. The method of claim 22, further comprising aligning the baseplate with a location visible on the glenoid.
 26. The method of claim25, wherein the base plate includes an alignment device.
 27. The methodof claim 26, wherein the base plate is shaped to include an apex, andthe alignment device is defined by the apex.
 28. The method of claim 22,wherein the pin orientation device is hollow, and includes a bulbousportion that movably mates with the base plate.
 29. The method of claim28, wherein the bulbous portion allows the pin orientation device toarticulate relative to the base plate and lock into place.
 30. Themethod of claim 22, further comprising sterilizing each of the guidingpin insertion guide and the alignment axis device such that each arereusable.
 31. The method of claim 22, wherein the guiding pin insertionguide and the alignment axis device are formed from either titanium orsurgical steel.
 32. The method of claim 22, further comprising reamingthe glenoid while utilizing the guiding pin.